Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols death face federal civil rights indictment
Five former Memphis police officers who were criminally charged for beating Tyre Nichols during an arrest that led to his death are now facing federal civil rights charges. The four-count indictment accuses the now-former Memphis Police Department officers of using excessive force against Nichols and failing to intervene in an unlawful assault against him, willfully disregarding his need for urgent medical aid, and then conspiring to cover up the assault by intentionally withholding information and making false statements to supervisors. They also are accused of obstructing the investigation. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr and Justin Smith are also facing state criminal charges – including second-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping – after officer-worn body camera and surveillance footage from January captured officers yelling conflicting commands at the 29-year-old Black man, firing a Taser at him, and beating him while he was pinned to the ground. Nichols died in hospital three days later. The first two counts of the federal indictment carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Counts three and four each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years. Seven Memphis Police Department officers were fired after Nichols’ death. Five are now facing federal and state charges. “Tyre Nichols should be alive today. No one in this country should have to bury a loved one because of police violence,” Assistant US Attorney General Kristen Clarke said during a press briefing alongside US Attorney Kevin G Ritz on Tuesday. The nation “watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed, and we all heard Mr Nichols cry out for his mother and say ‘I’m just trying to go home,’” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a separate video statement. The defendants “willfully deprived” Nichols of his constitutional rights and their actions resulted in his death, Mr Garland added. “Officers who violate the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect undermine public safety, which depends on the community’s trust in law enforcement,” he said. “They dishonor their fellow officers who do their work with integrity every day. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable officers who betray their oath.” Separately, the Justice Department has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the MPD earlier this year to determine whether the agency has a history of excessive force, racist policing and profiling, and unconstitutional search and seizure. Nichols’ family also has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump seeking $550m in damages and accusing the city of Memphis and its police department of widespread negligence and a failure to properly train officers operating in a now-dissolved controversial unit criticised for its alleged constitutional violations. Read More Four videos, 56 minutes, seven Memphis police officers, one deadly arrest: What the Tyre Nichols footage shows Why America’s skateboarders are riding for Tyre Nichols
2023-09-13 05:19
Sam Bankman-Fried loses bid for pretrial jail release
By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sam Bankman-Fried on Tuesday lost a bid to be released from jail so he
2023-09-13 05:16
Putin praises Musk as ‘outstanding person’ days after report Tesla boss stopped Ukrainian attack
Vladimir Putin heaped praise on Elon Musk as he called the billionaire an “outstanding person” and businessman. The Russian dictator complimented the Tesla CEO and X owner just days after Mr Musk said that he refused to let Ukraine use Starlink internet to launch a surprise attack on Russian forces in Crimea. The revelation was made in excerpts of a new biography on the South African-born entrepreneur that he had refused Ukraine support for a September 2022 attack on Russian naval vessels in Sevastopol. Mr Musk reportedly refused as he did not want to be complicit in a “major” act of war, and has been heavily criticised by Ukraine’s leadership. Mr Putin was not asked about the incident during an economic forum in Vladivostok but spoke about the rocket launching success of Mr Musk’s SpaceX company. “As far as private business and Elon Musk is concerned... he is undoubtedly an outstanding person. This must be recognised, and I think it is recognised all over the world,” he said. “He (Musk) is an active and talented businessman and he is succeeding a lot, including with the support of the American state.” Last October, Mr Musk was forced to deny a report that he had spoken to Mr Putin about Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine. Ian Bremmer, head of the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy, had claimed that Mr Musk personally told him about the conversation with Mr Putin. “I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space,” Mr Musk tweeted. It came the same month Mr Musk asked his social media followers to vote on ways to resolve the bloody conflict. The suggestions included holding votes in Russian-annexed areas of Ukraine, an idea welcomed by the Kremlin. He also suggested that the rest of the world should “formally” recognise Crimea, which was illegally occupied by Moscow in 2014, as part of Russia. In response, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky posted his own poll asking users if they liked the world’s richest person more when he supported Ukraine. Read More Elon Musk: How many children does the Tesla CEO have? Fatherhood, rows with Amber Heard and ‘the woke mind virus’: six revelations from Elon Musk’s biography Elon Musk ‘hardly remembers’ his own ‘demon-like’ episodes, biographer claims Grimes says Elon Musk was ‘clueless’ about why she was upset by C-section photo Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for Pentagon Pope's Ukraine peace envoy heads to China on mission to help return Ukraine children taken to Russia Ranting Putin threatens Sunak and makes wild claim UK ‘backed nuclear plant raid’ Putin says legal cases against Donald Trump are ‘persecution of a political rival’
2023-09-13 04:54
Trump Org. announces sale of New York City golf course
The Trump Organization said it sold its lease for a New York golf course with sweeping views of Manhattan to Bally's Corporation, ending several years of controversy.
2023-09-13 04:50
US Commerce head to meet with CEOs after China trip -sources
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expected to meet with the chief executives of major
2023-09-13 04:20
Danelo Cavalcante update: Escaped convict’s mother says he ‘had no choice’ in girlfriend’s murder
The manhunt for convicted killer Danelo Cavalcante continues 12 days after his escape from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania. The convict fled the facility days after he was sentenced to life for stabbing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao, 33, to death. He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil. In an interview with The New York Times on Tuesday, Cavalcante’s mother Iracema Cavalcante defended her son’s actions, saying that he killed Brandao after she reportedly threatened to tell American authorities that he was being sought by Brazilian police. “Did it happen? It happened,” Ms Cavalcante told the Times. “But it happened because of the stranglehold she put on him, the stance she took with him ... It wasn’t femicide. He had to, he had no other choice.” In the latest update, Pennsylvania State Police said the search is now centred on South Coventry Township, warning locals that the fugitive is armed and that they should “lock all doors and windows”. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Police confirmed that Cavalcante stole a .22 calibre rifle from a home in East Nantmeal Township on Monday, whose owner fired seven shots at him as he fled. Read More Police hunting Danelo Cavalcante say it’s ‘advantage law enforcement’ as search zeroes in on township Danelo Cavalcante search expands more than 20 miles from prison after he stole dairy farm van Danelo Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE as police reveal his attempts to contact coworkers
2023-09-13 04:20
Google antitrust trial: Tech giant denies abusing power to gain monopoly
In a landmark trial brought by the US government, the tech giant denies using illegal practices to gain a monopoly.
2023-09-13 04:17
USA vs Oman - International Friendly preview: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
The USMNT take on Oman.
2023-09-13 04:17
USA predicted lineup vs Oman - International Friendly
USMNT's predicted lineup for their friendly against Oman.
2023-09-13 03:59
Supreme Court won't intervene in Pennsylvania dispute over access to voting equipment after 2020 election
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an emergency bid from Republican election officials in a Pennsylvania county to freeze sanctions related to a dispute about voting equipment and the 2020 election.
2023-09-13 03:57
Danelo Cavalcante’s mother defends his murders and says ‘everyone is lying about him’
Danelo Cavalcante’s mother has spoken out in defence of her murder convict son nearly two weeks after he escaped from a prison in northwestern Pennsylvania. Cavalcante’s mother Iracema Cavalcante said in an interview with The New York Times that she believes her son is better off dead than spending the rest of his life behind bars over the April 2021 murder of his former girlfriend Deborah Brandao. “If it’s to go to a place to suffer and die in that place, it’s better to die soon,” Ms Cavalcante told the Times on Tuesday. “You don’t have to suffer so much.” Ms Cavalcante said “everyone is lying” about the convicted killer. Although she acknowledged that her son brutally killed his former ex-girlfriend, Ms Cavalcante claimed that he only did it because he “had to.” “Did it happen? It happened,” Ms Cavalcante told the Times. “But it happened because of the stranglehold she put on him, the stance she took with him ... It wasn’t femicide. He had to, he had no other choice.” This is a developing story ... check again for updates.
2023-09-13 03:53
Apple unveils iPhone 15 Pro with titanium case, holds line on prices
By Stephen Nellis CUPERTINO, California Apple on Tuesday unveiled a new iPhone 15 Pro with a titanium case
2023-09-13 03:30
